A Garage Car Lift Has Many Benefits
Are there more vehicles at your home than you have room for in the garage? Do you want to be able to keep all your cars protected in the winter? One of the most trending garage accessories is the addition of a garage car lift.
You may be thinking, “I’m not a mechanic, why do I need a garage car lift?” However, they provide many benefits for your garage than just being able to work on your car.
We’ll go over what garage car lifts are, their benefits and what to look for so you can get the one that best suits your needs.
What are Garage Car Lifts?
A car lift for your garage is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a device that will elevate your car so you can either work on it or benefit from the extra space it’ll provide.
There are a few standard types of garage car lifts that you’ll find in most people’s garages. It’s important to know your options so you can choose the correct lift to fit your needs.
It’ll be a big investment, but the advantages make it completely worth it. We’ll go over the different garage car lift types below.
Scissor lifts are the most standard garage car lifts and are more for the person that wants a lift solely to work on their car.
They lie flat when not in use and you park over them before you elevate your vehicle. They are very easy to use and don’t take up a lot of space.
However, they prohibit the ability to work underneath your car and are mainly ideal for wheel and brake work as well as some under-engine jobs. Scissor car lifts are also the least expensive option.
Although this type of garage car lift is commonly found in professional auto shops, they’re starting to pop up in people’s personal garages more and more.
They feature two heavy duty posts on each side with braces connecting them where your car sits. When raised, you’ll have complete access underneath your vehicle to perform any repair.
They also take up relatively little space so you can still utilize the rest of your garage. Two-post lifts are more permanent options as they need to be bolted to the floor and require periodic maintenance to make sure everything stays tight and level.
Four-Post Car Lifts
These types of garage car lifts are becoming increasingly popular in residential garages for their ease of use and benefits.
They feature four solid posts and a set of tracks that you drive onto so you can lift your car up. It’s extremely easy to operate which is why a lot of homeowners are adding them.
They can support the heaviest of vehicles and are ideal for smaller garages where you want to create more space.
The only drawback of four-post car lifts is that you can’t do any repairs to the wheels or brakes as they’re sitting on the tracks.
What are the Benefits of Garage Car Lifts?
Now that you know the types of garage car lifts, it’s time to learn why they’re such a great addition to your garage besides for car repair and maintenance.
Double Your Parking Space
With the addition of a four-post lift, you have the ability to park another car underneath the car you have on the lift. This is especially great for people who have smaller one car garages.
No need to pick and choose who gets garage privileges anymore. Keep in mind that you’ll need to move the bottom car before you use the one on top, so plan parking according to who needs to leave the house first.
Protect Your Investments
To go along with adding more parking space, by doing so, you can keep your valuable investment protected from the weather, car theft and help keep it in pristine condition.
Cars that are garage kept throughout the year almost always last longer and stay in better shape than ones that stay outside.
Also, if you have a high-end luxury vehicle that you use sparingly, you can keep it on the lift while you use your daily driver instead of having to store it elsewhere or keep your everyday vehicle outside.
Easy Car Care
Obviously, the biggest benefit of having a garage car lift is to be able to work on your car at home. No more overpaying for simple services or having to worry if your car will be done when you need it to be.
The investment will eventually pay for itself as you won’t have to pay the excessive labor expense that a lot of auto shops charge.
Make Sure Your Garage is Up to Par
Another thing to take into consideration when deciding if a garage car lift is right for you is if your garage is in good enough shape for one.
If your garage is old and leaky, your vehicles and other items inside won’t be as protected as you’d like. Plus, if you plan on working on your cars with your garage car lift, you won’t be comfortable in the summer or winter if your garage can’t keep the outside temperatures away.
If you find that your garage isn’t fit for a garage car lift and want a new one built, get a free quote online to start your garage building project with us.
